Major League Baseball

Stanton, Kaaya: Two California boys making a national splash in the Sunshine State

Published Sep. 25, 2014 3:00 p.m. ET

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When Brad Kaaya committed to the University of Miami in May of 2013 during his junior year of high school, a family friend who does security at events asked him if he wanted to be introduced to Miami Marlins All-Star slugger Giancarlo Stanton.

How could Kaaya say no?

Though six years separate the two, the pair attending rival high schools in Los Angeles-- Kaaya at West Hills and Stanton at Notre Dame.

"I remember him playing football and baseball when I was real young and he was well-known locally," Kaaya said. "He was just a cool dude, another dude from L.A. He's almost like a big teenager. He's really relatable in that sense."

Stanton didn't know who the 17-year-old was. Like many others, he did recognize Kaaya's mother, Angela, from the movie "Friday."

"That was cool to meet her," Stanton said. "Everyone still says that ('Bye Felicia') line. I'm sure it gets old to him."

Since that encounter, interactions have been tougher to come by. For one, Kaaya returned to high school 3,000 miles away. Stanton battled injuries during the 2013 season.

"It's just hard," Kaaya said. "He's busy, I'm busy. He's playing professional baseball."

This season, Giancarlo Stanton tied the Marlins franchise record for most home runs in a Miami uniform with 154.

As the quarterback battle brewed in Coral Gables this summer, Stanton stayed informed. That meeting gave him confidence in Kaaya's ability to make the transition from high school to college.

Though high school football in California may not draw 30,000 fans to games like in Texas, the crowds are still electric compared to other sports.

Stanton, who played high school football and was recruited by Pete Carroll to play tight end at USC, knows that the Golden State grooms some of the best athletes and competition in the country -- even without a team in the National Football League.

Before Miami's football season began, Stanton tried comparing Major League Baseball to college football. What advice would he give to Kaaya, whose first game was in front of 55,428 at Louisville?

"It's completely different," Stanton said. "I feel like quarterback is the single-hardest position in sports. It's one of those things he can't really say he's prepared for because he hasn't played in front of 100,000 yet. You can get as prepared as possible game-wise and usually a person that's been the best in his area and all-CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) Championship games in high school are better groomed to step up to those occasions. It's that fire that fuels you inside. The transition will take a few games to get acclimated but he should fit right in."

Through four games, Brad Kaaya leads the Atlantic Coast Conference in passing touchdowns with 10. 

Through four games, Kaaya has set the program's true freshman record for passing yards in a game twice. He leads the Atlantic Coast Conference in passing touchdowns (10), yards (1,057) and yards per game (264.3).

While Stanton can't imagine playing quarterback in hostile environments, Kaaya marvels at a major leaguer's ability to stand in the box to face pitchers who can throw triple digits.

"I'd say hit a 100 mph fastball," Kaaya said before Stanton's injury. "That just seems hard in itself."

Sixteen months later, two guys from the Valley have wound up making national headlines in the Sunshine State.

"It's different when you're away from home -- different air, different environment," Stanton said.

You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.

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